Kids Behind Bars: Life Or Parole
TV Show · Documentary · Crime

On the heels of a recent United States Supreme Court ruling that mandatory life terms without the possibility of parole for juveniles is a violation of the 8th Amendment, this docuseries spotlights eight convicted child offenders who are now seeking resentencing. The focus is split between the facts of the crimes when they were originally committed, combined with new evidence that has come to light, and the real-time updates regarding potential releases, parole hearings, and resentencing as they currently unfold. Each episode includes exclusive commentary from the convicted offenders from prison plus perspectives from leading psychologists, law enforcement and reporters closest to each case.

2019 · 42m

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1
    Aaron
    Young Aaron's friendship with Alana Calahan and her family was the antidote to a life that had been filled with abuse and instability, but when he and Alana were both aged 14, he tragically shot and killed her in an incident he says was an accident.
    40 min
  • EPISODE 2
    Curtis
    On April 10, 1995, 15-year-old Curtis is one of four teens involved in a fatal carjacking attempt and is sentenced to life in prison without parole. After 23 years in jail, Curtis is granted a resentencing and could soon be released.
    40 min
  • EPISODE 3
    Preston
    In 2010, three boys in Florida hatched a plan to use a gun to steal pot from 18-year-old Christopher Pitcock, but the plan went awry when 17-year-old Preston Chavers pulled the trigger, killing Christopher.
    40 min
  • EPISODE 4
    Bobby
    Bobby was a 17-year-old high school football player. His girlfriend, Krissi, shared a dark secret that led Bobby to shoot her parents, killing one of them. After 25 years, he hopes to show the Texas courts that he deserves a chance at release.
    40 min
  • EPISODE 5
    Brandon
    In 2001, 16-year-old Brandon Moore and three other teenagers encountered a 21-year-old in Youngstown, Ohio. What started as a mugging quickly escalated into a kidnapping and brutal sexual assault that led to Brandon being sentenced to 120 years.
    41 min
  • EPISODE 6
    James
    In 1990, 15-year-old James kills his stepmother and three young brothers with a shotgun, then sets their rural Wyoming home on fire; 27 years later, James' legal team argues that his original sentence is unconstitutional.
    40 min

Related

Cast & Crew

  • Eli Holzman
    Producer
  • Aaron Saidman
    Producer
  • Peter LoGreco
    Producer
  • Joshua Rofé
    Producer
  • Elaine Frontain Bryant
    Producer
  • Shelly Tatro
    Producer
  • A‌S
    Amy Savitsky
    Producer

About

Kids Behind Bars: Life Or Parole

Documentary

On the heels of a recent United States Supreme Court ruling that mandatory life terms without the possibility of parole for juveniles is a violation of the 8th Amendment, this docuseries spotlights eight convicted child offenders who are now seeking resentencing. The focus is split between the facts of the crimes when they were originally committed, combined with new evidence that has come to light, and the real-time updates regarding potential releases, parole hearings, and resentencing as they currently unfold. Each episode includes exclusive commentary from the convicted offenders from prison plus perspectives from leading psychologists, law enforcement and reporters closest to each case.

Information

Studio
AETV
Released
2019
Rated
PG
Region of Origin
United States
© 2019 A+E Networks. All Rights Reserved.

Languages

Original Audio
English
Audio

English (United States) (AAC)

Subtitles

English (United States) (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions refer to subtitles in available languages with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)